Solitude's Prevalence Among the Young: Exploring the Reasons Behind High Rates of Feeling Isolated
Baden-Württemberg Teenagers Experience High Rates of Loneliness, Particularly Young Women
Teenagers in Baden-Württemberg have reported elevated levels of loneliness, with half of them feeling isolated, according to a study conducted by the University of Stuttgart. Notably, young women are disproportionately affected.
A young woman named Mika, who agreed to discuss her feelings, described herself as lonely due to a lack of meaningful social connections. She often avoids meeting friends and distancing herself from her family because she feels ununderstood and unnoticed.
The study's findings corroborate those from a 2024 survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation, which revealed that 45% of young adults in Baden-Württemberg feel lonely, with the percentage varying by age group and ethnicity. Young adults aged 19 to 22, those with a migration background, and women are most affected. Economic factors, such as unemployment and low educational attainment, also play a role in fostering feelings of isolation.
Many young people may appear socially connected, but they remain lonely because they struggle to open up to others and trust them, claims Lisa, an online counselor for under-25s.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to the loneliness experienced by young people, as this age group saw the most significant increase in feelings of isolation during that period. The effects are still being felt today, says Anna Brodbeck, a social worker coordinating a mental health prevention program for school classes. "They've missed out on crucial years of development where they could have made friends and gained experiences."
Ruth Lauterstein, a 76-year-old resident of Stuttgart, also expressed feeling lonely, echoing a problem traditionally associated with the elderly. Social isolation due to health issues or other reasons can lead to dwindling social contacts, as calls and visits decrease. For Ruth and her family, acknowledging loneliness was not taboo, and they arranged for a volunteer from the Evangelical Community to visit her every Wednesday.
Mika, like many young people, struggles to find meaningful social connections amid societal pressures, integration challenges, and the digital age. She continues to search for a sense of belonging, considering joining a chess club to meet new people.
Addressing loneliness in young people requires a multifaceted approach, encompassing social integration, mental health support, and fostering community engagement to help young people build meaningful connections and a sense of belonging.
Science plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing the high rates of loneliness among teenagers in Baden-Württemberg, particularly young women. Efforts to improve mental health and wellness should prioritize health-and-wellness interventions that focus on building social connections, improving emotional resilience, and addressing underlying factors such as societal pressures, integration challenges, and digital age issues.
